Western South Carolina Focuses on Career Readiness
Area schools and colleges collaborate to prepare students for in-demand jobs.
A highly skilled and readily available workforce is the backbone of Western South Carolina‘s economic development strategy. Higher education institutions partner with public schools to create career pathways that equip students with the skills they need to succeed in the workforce and provide current and relocating businesses with the talent they need to thrive.
Preparation is Key
Aiken Technical College, for example, offers an Early Start program that provides dual enrollment/credit opportunities for high school students. Through the program, students explore career options in fields like cybersecurity, criminal justice, nuclear fundamentals and health care while earning college credit. Plus, students enrolled in the Early Start Teacher Academy take classes focused on teaching practices while earning various certifications.
“Aiken Technical College’s mission is to provide area residents with educational and workforce development opportunities,” says Forest Mahan, president of Aiken Technical College. “We work closely with the Aiken County Public School District and provide several dual enrollment pathways for their students, ranging from Early College – where students earn an associate degree at the same time as their high school diploma – to career-related certificates in areas such as cybersecurity.”
The college is also partnering with Aiken County Public School District to build a new career and technology center, which will be located on the college’s campus. It is expected to open in 2025.
Also contributing to the academic advantages of the region is Piedmont Technical College, which has seven campuses in the state, including one in Edgefield, McCormick and Saluda counties.
“We add to the quality of life in Edgefield, Saluda and McCormick counties because we have actual campuses in those local communities for people to enroll in academic curriculums, continuing education classes and workforce development courses,” says Hope Rivers, president of Piedmont Tech. “We also do much work with dual enrollment opportunities for high school students, offering several college-credit courses at the local campuses.”
Rivers adds that it would often be wise for students who eventually want to pursue a four-year education to initially attend Piedmont Tech to earn their associate degree – doing so might save students up to $10,000.
To better serve students, Piedmont Tech is planning to add advanced manufacturing centers in both Edgefield and Saluda.
“The Edgefield center is being planned for around the 2025 time period, and Saluda for 2026,” says Rusty Denning, the college’s associate vice president of economic development and strategic partnerships. “Those new centers will help attract even more industry to Western South Carolina. Anything in advanced manufacturing is popular these days, and those jobs pay very well.”
Positive Partnerships
The University of South Carolina Aiken hosts Aiken Scholars Academy, a free public high school known for its rigorous STEM-based curriculum, on its campus. Students take both high school and college courses and are encouraged to participate in college-level research projects.
“With our partnership with USC Aiken, our students are taking mainly dual enrollment coursework in their junior and senior year and are able to dig into college level content extremely early,” says Martha Messick, principal of Aiken Scholars Academy. “Not only that, but the university and their instructors have invited our students to help participate in their research, so our students not only have opportunities to take college courses, but also participate in active research going on here on campus.”
Messick says the academy’s students have even held paid internships and that the partnership with USC Aiken has been invaluable.
“The partnership with the university has been amazing, and they have been so open and willing to work with us. For example, last year, we had 100% of our 10th graders earn qualifying scores on the AP calculus exam, so that meant the university had to add a calculus II class to accommodate our students,” she says.
“Of course, the goal is to get those kids to stay here at USC Aiken, and we’ve had a good number of students finish their undergraduate studies here at the university.”
Learning Practical Skills
At Aiken County Public School District, students have access to a diverse range of hands-on learning opportunities to prepare them for real-world careers. With a focus on practical skills and industry-relevant knowledge, the district’s programs provide students with the tools they need to excel in various fields as well as help bridge the gap between education and the workforce.
Each of the district’s high schools offers specific programming that allows students to explore their interests, gain valuable experience and develop a strong foundation for their future careers. For example, Ridge Spring-Monetta Middle/High School offers a farm-to-table program that includes hands-on and project-based learning in agriculture, a STEM-based nutrition and health sciences curriculum, and the development of entrepreneurial skills. Students grow, prepare and sell food through the program.
“All students are capable of achieving success if given the appropriate amount of support within the academic setting. The ability to truly know each and every one of our students allows educators to provide personalized learning experiences to help them grow,” says Matthew Shepler, principal of Ridge Spring-Monetta Middle/High School. “Along with a team of excellent teachers, counselors and support staff, we are committed to working as a cohesive unit to provide the absolute best educational experiences for our students.”
Wagener-Salley High School in Wagener boasts an Academy of Leadership & Military Science. Students take classes in military history, participate in military drills and physical fitness, and learn valuable study skills. Silver Bluff High School in Aiken features an Advanced Studies Academy of Technology, Engineering and the Arts. Students take rigorous classes in subjects like cybersecurity, computer programming and engineering.
Both North Augusta and South Aiken high schools offer Advanced Placement academies, where students are encouraged to take AP courses that could potentially earn them college credit.
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